Educational Strategies and the Role of the School Mediator in Roma Communities – A Comparative Study of European Union Countries

Abstract

This article compares educational strategies for the inclusion of Roma children in Romania, Spain, and Slovakia, focusing on the role of the school mediator and teaching assistant. In Romania, the school mediator is a key resource, but one that is poorly funded. Slovakia works with teaching assistants and social workers, who, although they have well-defined roles, are few. Spain, on the other hand, stands out for its development of multi-year mediation programs, funded and implemented with the support of public authorities and NGOs. Thus, there is a need for institutional consolidation and more consistent resources to improve access to education for disadvantaged communities.